And dubwabd a



A. H. WOLFE ET AL ARTIQLE com-Arum Aprll 19, 1927.

Filed Nov. 16. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 19, 1927.

A. H. WOLFE ET AL ARTICLE CONTAINER Filed Nov. 16. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1',6Z5,011 April 19, 1927. A. H. WOLFE ET AL ARTICLE CONTAINER Filed NOV 16. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,625,011 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. WOLFE, OF WEST PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND DURWARD A. WOLFE, or GRAND RAPIDS; MICHIGAN.

ARTICLE CONTAINER.

Application filed November 16, 1925. Serial No. 69,447.

The invention is primarily an article container of a flush type, that is one which is inset in a support and is substantially flush with the outer surface of such support, and the invention is Well designed for mounting in instrument boards, doors and various other parts of automobiles, in the walls of rooms, in desks and smoking stands, in other articles of furniture, etc.

One object of the invention is to provide a unique construction in which an artlcle containing casing is normally positioned 11] a housing which is inset in the support, but is readily reversible with respect to said housing, and when reversed, OCCHPIGS'SUCll a position as to render its contents accessible, the casing being rigidly held by the housing when in either of its two positions.

The housing is provided with an outstanding franie surrounding its open front and adapted to abut the support, and a further aim is to provide novel side members for this frame so constructed as to receive the outer ends of shoes which project from the casing through longitudinal slots in the side walls of the housing, these frame members also preventing entrance of dust through the slots.

Still further objects are to relate and connect the frame and housing 1n a novel manner so as to easily produce the above named slots; and to provide the housing with uniquely formed shoulders which are engaged by portions of the casing when the latter is in either of its two positions.

A carrier of any desired form may be inserted into the casing, so constructed as to carry the particular articles to be contained, for instance smokers equipment, cosmetics, shaving equipment, etc., and further objects of the invention are to make unique provision whereby a slidable article holder may be partly projected from the carrier and easing by means of one of the users fingers; to provide for yieldably holding the article holder in projected position; and to make novel provision for removably holding the carrier in the casing.

Yet another object is to provide a device which may be manufactured to advantage and may by a very simple operation, have its appearance changed according to 'the purchascrs taste" and the exigencies ofthe surroundings in which it is to be used.

Still other objects are to provide individual article holders of novel form, par-s ticularly a cigarette holder and a match box holder.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings. v

Fi ure 1 is a perspective view showing the evice with the casing partly swung out of the housing.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the casing swung entirely out of the housing and partly reversed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the reversed casing supported by the housing and illustrating one of the article containers projected upwardly for exposing its contents.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as. indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views as indicated by lines 55 and 66 of Figs. 1 and 3, respectively.

Figures 7 and 8 are vertical longitudinal sectional views as indicated by lines 77 and 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Figures 9 and 10 are vertical transverse sectional views as indicated by lines 9-9 and 1010 of Figs. 5 and 7.

F gure 11 is a perspective view of the carrier and a cigarette holder mounted thereon. s

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the cigarette holder.

Flgure 14 is a detail perspective -view showing a preferred detail of construction in the manufacture of the casing.

Flgure 15 is a vertical sectional view. through the match box holder. Figure 16 is a horizontal section on ,line 1616 of Fig. 15.

Figure 1" 71 is a perspective view of the match box holder.

The drawings above briefly described, illustrate what may be considered as the preferred details of construction and while these details will be hereinafter described rather specifically, it is to be understood at the outset that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

H designates a housing which is adapted to be positioned within an opening 0 in any desired support S, said housing having an open front provided with an outstanding frame F which is adapted to abut the support, as shown.

The body portion of the housing comprises a back wall 18, a pair of parallel side walls 19, and two parallel end walls 20 which are of slightly greater width than the side walls 19, and have their free edge portions outwardly offset to provide internal shoulders 21, for a purpose to appear. The longitudinal side members 22 and the end members 22 of the frame F, are so stamped as to produce a channelled formation at the inner sides of these members, and flanges 23 are formed at the inner portions of the members 22, which flanges are secured by solder or in any other desired manner, to the offset outer edge portions of the end walls 20. Flanges 24 are formed at the inner portions of the side members 22. these flanges being disposed in the same planes as the side walls 19. The free edges of the flanges 24 are spaced outwardly from the free edges of the side walls 19, so that two longitudinal slots 25 are provided at the opposite sides of the housing H, these slot-s being most clearly disclosed in Figs. 4, 7 and 9. These slots are instrumental in reversibly mounting the casing C. and attention may here be directed to the fact that the frame F. abuttin the support S, so protects said slots, as to prevent the entrance of any dust or the like therethrough. This frame may obviously be of any desired transverse formation to give a good appearance.

The casing C comprises a back wall 26. a front wall 27, a pair of end walls 28 and a bottom 29. Preferably. the front wall 27 is formed separately from the bottom and the other walls and is provided with flanges 30 riveted or otherwise secured to the end walls 28. The front edge of the bottom 29 may also be formed with a flange 31 suitably secured to the front wall 27 for At its upper portion, the front wall 27 is bent rearwardly as at 32, and then downwardly as at 33. for a purpose to appear. and the vertical flange portion 33 preferably has' its intermediateportion cut away as at 34 for a reason which will also be explained. The lower edge of this vertical flange portion 33 is provided near its ends with laterallv bent flanges 35 which extend toward the front plate 27 and constitute shoulders for a purpose to be hereinafter ex lained.

A rod 36 passes through the horizontal flange portion 32, through the casing bottom 29, and through the slots 25. the ends of thisirod being provided with washers or other heads 37 which engage the outer sides of the housing walls 19. and the flanges 24, these heads belng disposed within the hollow side members 22 of the frame F. By means of the rod 36, heads 37 and slots 25, the easing C is reversibly mounted, and when this casing is in the normal position disclosed in Fl". 5, its flanges 3O abut the shoulders.

21. filhen the casing is swung outwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, slid to a reversed position, and ,againengaged with the housing, the end portions of the front wall 27, engage the shoulders 21, as will be clear from Fig. 6. One end of the casing C is of course held in proper position by the rod 36 regardless of the position which said casing occupies. To similarly hold the other end of the casing in place, it is provided with a.

pair of spring-pressed latch devices 38, and the flanges 23 .and offset front edges of the walls 20, are provided with shallow depressions 39 to be engaged by said latch devices as will be clear from Fig. 7. These latch devices are preferably carried by the ends of a single spring 40, suitably secured in the casing, said latch devices passing through openings in the casing end, as will be obvious. i

In the present showing, a substantially diamond-shaped opening 41 is formed in the front wall 27, and an ornamental panel 42 which spans said opening and is secured the panel 42 may be covered with leather or other material of any desirfedtype and color, or said panel may be engraved, stamped, or otherwise designed, so as to present an attractive appearance, and simply by substituting another panel such as 42, for one previously in the'device, it will be seen that the design and appearance of the article may be changed as occasion may require. For instance, when the device is used in an automobile having interior finishing in certain tones, the panel 42 should be of some harmonious tone, and obviously, the metallic parts may be attractively finished in any manner, for instance, by silver-plating.

To give a unique appearance to the devise, and to also provide a finger-hold by means of which the casing may be swung open from its normally closed position, the metal of the front wall 27 is stamped or bowed outwardlyas at 44 at opposite ends of the opening 41.

if only one of the portions 44 were employed.

If desired, the back wall 26 of the casing C could be provided with an attractive panel similar to the front wall and visible when the casing is in the position disclosed in Figs. 3 and 6.

, A carrier C is, in the )rcsent disclosure, located within the casingv said carrier comprising a single strip of metal 45 having its end portions bent upwardly to'provide parallel arms 46. The upper ends of these arms are turned outwardly as at 47 to engage the inwardly converging end walls 28 of the casing C, this inward convergence being imparted to said end walls, in order that they shall not bind against the housing when moving the casing inwardly or outwardly with respect thereto. A cigarette holder H is mounted upon the central portion of the strip 45-and comprises an outer stationary section and an inner slidable section. The outer section comprises a bottom 48, front and back walls 49 rising from said bottom and having vertical guide flanges 50 along their edges, and a cover 51 hinged to the back wall and resting on the front wall. The inner section of the, holder H comprises a bottom wall 52 and a pair of side walls 53 rising therefrom, the latter being slidably engaged with the inner sides of the flanges 50 and being disposed to straddle the cover 51 is desired, so that if they be moved to the position shown in dotted'lines in Fig. 11, their upper ends may support a cigar or cigarette, for which. purpose they are formed with seats 54.

The bot om 48 of the holder H I and the strip 45 of the carrier C, are formed with registering openings, providing a fingerhole 55 which registers with the slot 56 in the bottom of the casing C. Thus. one finger of the users hand may be upwardly inserted and engaged with the bo tom 52, so that the inner section of the holder H. may be upwardly slid from the stationary outer section, asshown in Fig. 3. This inner section is intended 'tohold a package P of cigarettes and when the upper ends of the package or the upper ends of the cigarettes come in contact with the cover 51, they open the latter, as will be clearly understood. When'the innor section is lowered somewhat, the cover 51 may be downwardly swung over the cigav rettes leaving the upper ends 54 of the side walls 53 exposed, so that they may be used as a rest for the-cigarette, or for a cigar if I desired.

While the bottom 48 could be secured to the strip 45 in any desired manner. we prefer to bend the meal at the edge of the opening formed-through the strip 45, through the opening formed in said bottom,.clinching such metal upon the bottom as indicated at 57 in FigsBand-IO,

Two spring. arms 58 are secured to the strip 45 at opposite sides of the holder H, said arms being provided with outwardly curred upper ends 59 which are adapted to abut the flanges 35 as will be clear from Fig.

9, when an ash receiver A and a match box holder M are inserted between the holder H. and the arms 46. \Vhen these members A and Marc withdrawn from the carrier C, the arms 59 spring inwardly so that they will clear the flanges 35, permitting the entire carrier and the holderH to be with- .through the ring and clinched as indicated at 62. Thus, the arms 58 are advantageously mounted and finger openings are provided having rounded edges, similar to the opening 55. The openings 61 of course aline with other openings 63 in the bot-om of the casing C, so that by inserting a finger, the ash receiver A or the match box holder M, may be slid upwardly with respect to the carrier C. By preference, both the ash receiver A and the match box holder M are of uniform external dimensions so that either one of them may be inserted in either end portion of the carrier C. The receiver A may well bcin the form of a casingv open at its top and having an inturned edge 64 and a transverse bar 65 which serve adequately as scrapers for removing ashes from cigars or cigarette-. Vhen the ash receiver needs emptying. it may be forced upwardly by inserting the index or some other finger through the adjacent opening 61 and then the upper ends ofsaid receiver may be graspe to permit total withdrawal. 7 The match box holder M comprises a back wall 66, a top 67 projecting forwardly therefrom, a bottom'68 and side walls 69, portions of the latter being cut away as at 70 to expose the side walls of the sheath of a safety match box which may be held in the holder, so that matches may be readily struck upon the usual striking surfaces of said sheaths side walls.

reception in the lower end of the match box sheath when the -ma,tch-containing portion of the box rests upon this projection, so that the box of matches may be supported in partlv open position, permitting easy removal of the matches. To facilitate such removal, the upper end of the boxjmay be brokenor cut oflf as shown in Fig; 9 and The bottom 68 is provided with an upward projection 71 for provision is preferably made for forcing the box. forwardly from its normal position under the top wall 67. To perform this funca finger opening 7 3 in said back wall. The.

tion, a vertical spring, 72 is preferably se cured at its lower end to the back wall 66, at the inner side of the latter, and'the up per end of this spring is accessible through spring 72, bottom 68 and projecting portion 71 are preferably formed from one piece of metal, whereas the remaining parts of the holder M are formed as another unit, the two units being connected by any preferred means, such as the tOngllQS: 74:. 5

When the holder M is within the carrier C, the match box engages one of the spring arms 58 and holds it in engagement with the adjacent shoulder 35, as disclosed in Fig. 9. When a match is needed, the user inserts opened match box and permitting amatch to be readily removed,

All parts of the invention are so constructed as to be easily manufactured and assembled, and easily secured within an opening such as 0. To assist in the insertion of the rod 36, the side walls 19 of the housing H are preferably formed with notches 7,5

. communicating with the slots 25. To fill these notches after they have performed their function, spring arms 76 may well be secured to-the walls 19,'as disclosed for in-.

' stance in Figs. 4 and 7.

it, v possessing In order to secure the housing H in the opening 0, the end walls 20 of said housing are preferably formed with openings, through which to pass screws 77 as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, and when these screws are tightened, they outwardly force the portions of said end walls 20 around the screw holes, as indicated at 78, causing theseportions to bite into the end walls of the opening 0, so as to tenaciously secure the housing in place.

, Obviously, while the invention is herein disclosed for the purpose of carrying smoking equipment, it might well be utilized to retain any desired contents, such as those mentioned in the first part of this specification..- To permit adaptation of the device for difierent purposes, the carrier C? is readily removable as above ex lained, and another carrier may well be sulistituted for the" necessary requirements.

ing slidably a frame secured and adapted v the planes of This is the only change which is usually necessary, as the construction of the casing, I

the construction of the housing, and theconnect-ing means between them, will remain the same, regardless of the use to which the invention is to be put.

The details disclosed are preferable but, within the scope of the invention as claimed,

- various modifications may be made, and it is to'be further understood that such terms as back, front, top, bottom, upper, lower, etc., are used to explain the numerous relations of parts, and do not restrict the invention to use in the vertical position herein disclosed, for if desired, the device could be inset in a desk or table top, or in some other horizontal or substantially horizontal support.

1. A device of the class described comprising a housing adapted to be inset in a support, said housing having an open front and an outstanding frame around said open front and being provided also with longitudinal tracks at its opposed sides, a reversible casing fitting into said housing and closing said open front thereof, said casing havin an open side closed by one of said opposed sides of the housing, and shoes on said casengaging said tracks, said shoes being spaced sufficiently forward from'the rear side of the casing to dispose this side forwardly from said frame when the casing is reversed, thereby exposing said open side of the casing.

2. A device of the class described comprising support, said housing having an open front a-housing adapted to be inset in a and being provided with parallel side walls,

to said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom to abut the support, said frame having, side members spaced outwardly from the longitudinal edges of said side walls to provide longitudinal slots between said side members and said edges, a reversible casing fitting into sai housing and shoes carried by the casing and slidably received in said slots. r I

3. A device of the class described comprising a housing adapted to be inset in a support, said housing having an open front,

parallel side walls and end walls, a frame surrounding the open front pf said housin to abut the support, the en members of the frame having inwardly projecting'fianges at their inner edges secured to the end walls of the housing, the side members of the frame being provided with inwardly projecting flanges in substantially v said'side walls but spaced'outwardl from the edges. of the latter to form slots; etweensaidjedg'es and flanges, a reversible' casing fitting into said housing and d and closing the open front thereof,

closing the open front thereof, and shoes carried by said casing and slidably received in said slots. 4

4. A structure as specified in claim 2; said shoes having heads slidably engaging the outer surfaces of said side walls, said side members of the frame being of longitudinally channeled form at their rear sides for the reception of said heads.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1; then end walls of said housing having their outer edge portions outwardly offset to provide;

. said casing slidably engaging said tracks,

. a finger hold by means of which the closure the end walls of said housing having their outer edge portions outwardly offset .to provide shoulders against which portions of said casing bear in either the normal or reversed position of said casing, said ofi'set wall portions having inwardly facing depressions, and a spring-pressed latch member on the casing engageable with said depressions to yieldably hold the casing in either of its positions.

7. In a device of the class described, a housing adapted to be inset in"a support and having an open front, and 'a closure movably mounted to close said open front, said closure comprising an outer plate having an opening, and an inner ornamental panel visible through said opening, a portion of said outer plate at an edge of the opening being outwardly bulged to provide can be moved from its normal position.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with a carrier removably positioned in said casing, article-holding means slid-' ably carried by said carrier for projection through said open side ofthe casing when the latter is in said reversed position,,means for. holding said carrier against sliding with said article-holding means, and means for yieldably holding said article-holding means in extended position.

9. In a device of the class described, comprising a housing having an open front and adapted to be inset in a support, and a casing reversibly mounted in said housing and having an open side which is exposed when 1' the casing is in one of its two positions;a

carrier removably'posltioned in said cas1ng,

article-holding means slidably carried by said carrier for projection through said open side of the casing when the latter is in said one position, means for holding said carrier against sliding with said article-holdin means, and means for yieldably holding said article-holding means in extended position; the side of the casing opposite said open side, and the adjacent portion of the carrier having openings through which to insert a finger of the hand for sliding said articler holding means to extended position, said opening of the casing being normally closed by a portion of the housing but being readily accessible when said casing is moved to said one position.

10. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an open side, a carrier removably positioned in said casing, and a retaining device carried by said carrier and adapted to engage the casing to retain the carrier in said casing, said retaining device having a portion adapted to be engaged by an article inserted into the carrier for the purpose of projecting said device into operative engagement with said casing.

11. A structure as specified in claim 10; said retaining device comprising a spring which is self-retracting from engagement with said casing when said article is removed, said spring bearing frictional ly against the article when the latter is in place.

12. A structure as specified in claim 10; a wall of said casing being provided with a portion turned inwardly substantally upon casin havin its ends outwardl turned and disposed in contact with opposed end walls of said casing, said stripv constituting a carrier which is removable but is stationary during operation of the device, and article-holding means carried by said carrier and upwardlyslidable therefrom when the casing is in said reversed position.

14'. In an article container, an outside section comprising a bottom, front and rear walls rising from said bottom, said walls having parallel, guide means at their edges, and a cover hinged to the upper end of one of said walls and resting on the other wall; and a slidable, inner section comprising a bottom and a pair of side walls rising therefrom, said side walls being slidably. engaged with said guide means and being disposed to straddle and project above said cover, the upper ends of said side walls hav ing seats for the purpose set forth.

15. A matchbox holder comprising a back wall, end walls and side walls projecting from said back wall, the side walls being 'shaped'to expose the side walls of a match box sheath, an inwardly projecting member spring plate and force the latter inwardly,

on one end wall to be surrounded by one end thereby forwardly tilting the match box. of the match box sheath, and a spring plate In testimony whereof we have hereunto W secured to the inner side of said back wall afiixed our signatures.

E5 to engage the match box, said back wall 1 having an opening through which a finger ARTHUR H. WOLFE. of the hand may be inserted to engage said DURWARD A. WOLFE. 

